Bulking Up Intelligently: How to Build Lean Muscle Mass And Minimize Fat Gain

Many bodybuilders are using alternating phases of bulking up and leaning out. Traditionally, bulking involves eating large amounts of food, training hard and heavy, and gaining an appreciable amount of muscle along with a good amount of fat. Leaning out, sometimes called cutting, involves eating less and relying on stored fat to make up the energy shortfall. It’s something like walking 2 steps forward and one step back.

Pros and cons of bulking

There are a couple of disadvantages to this typical bulk/lean cycle. For one thing, the associated fat gain can interfere with athletic performance, cardiovascular fitness, mobility and general appearance.

Your abs will disappear

Say goodbye to your six-pack while bulking! Also, the cutting phase often results in muscle loss as well. This means at least some of your hard work has been wasted. Finally, eating so much food, day after day and week after week is hard work!

Forget the idea that an apple or banana constitutes a snack. Each meal, all five to seven or more per day, has to be big – possibly 500 calorie or more each and every time. This requires organization, a schedule that allows you to chow down food every 2-3 hours and also the willingness to carry food with you wherever you go.

There is no doubt that bulking is an effective way to add mass and strength but, for many people, the cons outweigh the benefits. For these individuals, there is an alternative way to gain muscle while minimizing fat gain.

It should be noted that gaining lean muscle is quite hard. Building muscle, an anabolic process called hypertrophy, requires an energy surplus which means you need to eat more.

This is easy enough using the traditional approach to bulking as the aim is to strategically overeat. If, however, you want to add muscle but very little fat, you need to be more selective with the types and quantity of food you eat and also resign yourself to slower muscle gain. On the plus side, there should be relatively little requirement to switch to a harsh cutting cycle and lose your hard-won muscle.

Your biggest, most carb-dense meal will be immediately after training where, because of elevated insulin sensitivity, your muscles will absorb just about any nutrients you throw at them.

The rest of the time, go easy on the carbs and focus more on protein and good fats plus fibrous veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, celery, cabbage and so on.

Unlike the traditional bulker who generally avoids cardio like the plague, you will need to include some cardio in your routine but steer away from catabolic activities like long distance running. Instead, focus on interval training, bodyweight and kettlebell circuits and other more intense but relatively short duration workouts.